When I was a freshman in college, the arrival of a plain, brown paper package at the campus post office could only mean one thing for the recipient – food from home. For me, it specifically meant baked goods and other treats that I didn’t have access to living in a cramped dorm room in a small, out-of-the-way college town. Mind you, those were the days before there was a Starbucks strategically planted in every campus quad and on every other street corner. Back then, we relied on care packages from home for our cookies, brownies and rice krispie treats. I’ll admit that by the time they made it through several days in transit, they weren’t always the freshest. But, I didn’t care. To me, they were a connection to my family. They were comfort. They were love.

In a few days, Mr. SGCC and I will be heading out to take Mini SGCC off to college. It hardly seems possible! It feels like only yesterday I was clasping my daughter’s tiny hand as I dropped her off for her first day of kindergarten. I cried. She didn’t. And, I’m sure I will again when the time comes for us to say goodbye. I can already feel the tug on my heart as I write this. But, it’s time for her to go and start making her own mark in the world. I’m both excited and scared at the same time. read more >>

Hello and welcome to SGCC! I’m Susan, a professional writer, food columnist, recipe developer, wife, mother, daughter and sister, who used to be a lawyer in a previous life. My love of food comes from a long line of wonderful and creative Italian home cooks who didn’t always have a lot, but knew how to make a lot out of what they had. I hope that you enjoy yourself while you’re here, and visit often! read more >>